Container for ready-mix concrete



June 13, 1961 J ov c 2,988,207

CONTAINER FOR READY-MIX CONCRETE Filed Aug. 18, 1958 INVENTOR.

J0H/v L. LOVELACE BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,988,207 CONTAINER FOR READY-MIX CONCRETE John L. Lovelace, Rte. 2, Box 286, San Angelo, Tex. Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,684 1 Claim. (Cl. 206--47) The present invention relates generally to packaged articles and more particularly to a packaged article consisting of a container for sand and/or gravel which also contains interiorly of itself a further moisture proof container of cement or the like, the quantities of materials being suitable for making concrete.

It is known to manufacture and sell commercially a mixture of cement and sand and/or gravel, in proper proportions to form concrete when combined with a suitable quantity of water. Such a mixture must be packaged in a dry state in a moisture proof container. Failing this, concrete forms after a time within the container, representing spoilage of the product. Considerable expense is involved in preparing sand and/or gravel to have sufficient dryness (1% moisture), and in addition containers suitable for maintaining this drpness over very long time periods, and of a size and strength adequate to hold and permit handling of large quantities of material, represents another considerable item of cost. These costs have had a considerable impact on the price structure of and the commercial market for packaged readymix concrete.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive package for ready mix concrete, wherein the sand and gravel elements of the mix are not required to have or retain a high degree of dryness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a package containing the ingredients of ready mix concrete in which sand and/0r gravel are contained in a large bag which is not necessarily moisture-proof and into which the sand and/or gravel has been or may be inserted in a relatively moist condition, and in which cement is included in a moisture-proof plastic bag contained within the large bag.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a bag of readymix concrete, an internal moisture-proof bag holding cement, and the exterior bag containing only sand and/or gravel, which may be in relatively moist condition;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective illustrating the removal of a moisure-proof bag of cement from a bag containing sand and/ or gravel.

Describing the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral denotes a relatively large bag containing sand, or sand and gravel, or sand, gravel and broken stone, or other filler 11 useful in the making of concrete. Specifically and preferably, either (A) sand and gravel, (B) mortar sand or (C) coarse sand, may be employed. This material may be packaged as it comes from a batching machine, no particular eifor t being expended in drying the material. The bag 10 is of sufiicient mechanical strength to contain the weight of material, and to permit handling, but need not be moisture-proof. Thereby, a relatively inexpensive bag 10 may be employed and the material 11 may involve a minimum of processing.

Included within the bag 10 is a smaller bag 12 containing cement 13. The cement 13 is packaged in completely dry state and the bag 12 is fabricated of moistureproof plastic material and sealed after filling, as by heat treatment, to form a completely moisture-proof seal.

The bag 12, after being filled with the correct quantity of cement, and after being sealed, is inserted in the bag 10 with the sand and/or gravel, in any convenient manner, and the bag 10 is then sealed. Preferably the bag 12 may be immersed within the sand and/or gravel 11 in considerable degree so that it will be cushioned against shock due to rough handling.

The character and specific structure of the bag 12 is not described herein, since suitable materials and constructions are well-known. Examples are provided in United States Patents No. 2,754,865 and No. 2,628,013, although I do not desire to be limited to the constructions there taught.

I may also include within the bag 10 a small booklet in which I may print directions for making various types of concrete, as required for various uses of this material.

The bag 10 may include a mouth 14, secured as by stitching 15, and if desired the bag 12 may be supported by the stitching 15, taking care, however, that the stitch ing does not break the moisture-proof seal. The advantage of this last-described feature of the invention is that when the stitching 15 is removed to open the large bag 10, the location of the small bag 12 containing cement 13 is fixed and conveniently to hand. The last-described feature is not, nevertheless, of the essence of the present invention.

While I have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illus trated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

As an article of manufacture, a relatively large bag having an open mouth, said large bag fabricated of ma terial having sufiicient mechanical strength to sustain the weight of a large quantity of concrete aggregate in moist condition, and having mechanical and physical characteristics suitable for containing said concrete aggregate in moist condition over long time periods without substantial deterioration, said relatively large bag substantially filled with said concrete aggregate, a smaller bag containing cement, said smaller bag having a mouth and being fabricated entirely of heat scalable moisture-proof material, the mouth of said smaller bag having a heat heal to seal said cement within said smaller bag against ambient moisture, said smaller bag being located within said larger bag with the mouth of said smaller bag aligned with the mouth of said larger bag, and at least one line of stitching across the mouth of said larger bag to seal said larger bag, said line of stitching extending across the heat seal of said smaller bag, so that said smaller bag is retained in position within said larger bag by said line of stitching, said line of stitching leaving the seal of said smaller bag intact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,074,758 Reynolds Mar. 23, 1937 2,593,328 Meaker Apr. 15, 1952 2,619,801 Evans Dec. 2, 1952 2,687,130 Cohen Aug. 24, 1954 2,828,858 Tooke Apr. 1, 1958 

